How to say "essence" in Japanese

• 本質ほんしつJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers essence as the true nature of something — what it fundamentally is — as in discussing the essence of a problem, an idea, or an institution.
  それから、彼かれは、ケンブリッジで研究けんきゅうを始はじめ、宇宙うちゅうの本質ほんしつについて前まえよりいっそう多おおくの考かんがえを発展はってんさせ始はじめた。↗

  Then he began his work at Cambridge, developing many new ideas about the nature of the universe.
• 実質じっしつJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounEssence as actual substance or content as opposed to outward form; close to English 'in substance' or 'what it amounts to' when judging a matter by its real content.
• エッセンスCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword, usable for the abstract sense when a Western flavor fits, and for essence as a product, such as a cosmetic essence or other extracts.
• 実体じったいCommon
  nounLeans toward 'entity' or 'substance': what actually exists, as opposed to mere appearance or name. In philosophy it is the word for 'substance'; for abstract 'essence', 本質 is usually the word you want.
  ヒートアイランド現象げんしょうの実体じったい解析かいせきと対策たいさくのあり方かたについて。↗

  An analysis of the nature of the heat island phenomenon and countermeasures.
• エキスCommon
  nounA concentrated extract from plants, meat, and the like; 'essence' only in the tangible sense, never for an abstract quality. Usually written in kana alone.
  樹皮じゅひからエキスを抽出ちゅうしゅつする。↗

  Extract an essence from the bark of a tree.

Choose 本質 for the true nature of something, 実質 for substance as opposed to form, 「エッセンス」 as the loanword for abstract essence or extracts, 実体 for concrete existence, and 「エキス」 only for physical extracts.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 本質ほんしつessence
• 実質じっしつsubstance
• エッセンスessence
• 実体じったいsubstance
• エキスextract (of plants, meat, etc.)
• 奥義おうぎsecret techniques (of an art or skill)
• 真髄しんずいessence
• 精華せいかessence
• 極意ごくいinnermost secrets (of an art or skill)
• 眼目がんもくmain point
• 粋すいessence
• 精髄せいずいessence
• 要義ようぎessence
• 美容液びようえきessence
• らしさ-inity
• 精気せいき(mind and) spirit
• 要諦ようてい(most) important point
• 奥義秘伝おうぎひでんsecrets
• 精神せいしんspirit (of a matter)
• 根本こんぽんfoundation
• だいたいoutline
• 主眼しゅがんmain point
• 生命せいめいlife force
• 真諦しんたいessence
• つぼkey point (of a conversation, etc.)